Studio Helper

Sometimes it’s nice having help in the studio. And sometimes, it’s not really helpful. My daughter’s pooch, Snuffles, frequently is by my side while I’m working. Occasionally, she gets her nose a little too close to moving parts or she wanders off with a sponge which apparently makes a fun dog toy. But when she doesn’t feel she’s getting adequate attention, she occasionally likes to get right up in the action. Silly puppy!

In spite of all this help, I’ve continued my efforts to stockpile the items most frequently sold during my summer sales. Throwing in a few fun, creative pieces as the fun wears off making 40 spoon rests in a sitting. I’ve recently been making some plates that start out like a typical thrown salad size plate, but after trimming the foot ring, I reshape the rim to a rounded square shape. I really enjoy the altered shape and think when they’re paired with a thrown dinner plate they make a great place setting. The hardest part is catching them at the right stage of drying to be able to trim the foot ring yet the rim isn’t too dry to cut smoothly with a sharp knife. If it gets too dry, the edge of the rim crumbles and chunks off instead of cutting cleanly. But challenges are part of the fun. Right?

Be well and stop in for a visit again soon.

I'm a Wimp!

My less than stellar progress this week in the studio is mostly because I’m a wimp. I hate the cold. I can get past temps in the 20’s and get lots done. But below 0 and I’m toast. I just want to curl up on my couch with my blanket and hot chocolate. No way, no how, am I going out in the studio (a well heated space that is often warmer than our house when the kiln is running) to do anything.

It’s was -30 °F this morning here in the frozen north. That’s said “30 below” not “negative 30” if you're not from a place that see temps like that.

The weatherman says we’re going to see a warm up the next couple days so I’m looking forward to that and getting back in the studio away from my blanket and hot chocolate (my butt doesn’t need much more of that). It’s supposed to get to around 30°F this weekend which will be a 60° warm up and it will still be below freezing. Minnesotans are pretty hardy folks, but this is ridiculous.

Stockpiling Begins

This weekend I spent my studio time in the early stages of stockpiling pieces for summer sales. Of course this was all fit between shopping, errands, a movie with my husband and the many other pleasant weekend activities, but that's not what this blog is about. During the early months of the year, I like to make as many of the smaller, frequently sold items as I can. They are bisqued as I have a kiln full and then stored in tubs to be glazed throughout the year as they are needed. It's not the most fun because making the same thing over and over again is so repetitive, and doesn't allow for much creativity. But later I'm very grateful for the time spent getting ahead on these items so I can spend the more limited summer time on creative pieces.

Above is a picture of the start of many syrup pitchers. They've been thrown, trimmed and are awaiting handles. As a reward after making a couple drying boards full of these little pitchers, I made one fun piece at the end of the day. Woo hoo - living large and having a blast, huh? Well I enjoy it :-)

Have a great week.

Out with the Old

Happy New Year everybody!

It’s a time of hope for what the New Year could bring and also a time of reflection. How did last year go? What went really well? What made it work? What could be improved? It’s time to close the books (literally and metaphorically) on 2008 and determine our course of action for the promising New Year.

In 2008, I worked harder at being a potter than I ever have in the past. In spite of poor economic conditions, my sales increased and I’ve added several new and valued customers. I started this blog and have found it and my Etsy shop to be valuable and enjoyable communication and sales tools. Some of my sales venues were better than others and I’ve decided I need to evaluate them on an effort vs. reward level for the upcoming year. For the most part, the goals I’d set for 2008 have been met and exceeded and I feel great about that.

My goals for 2009 have been formulating in my head for months. They include fairly typical goals for any small business. Stuff like, continued sales growth both in numbers and dollars, additional sales venues, attending an educational workshop, use of available technologies to make my job easier – the usual stuff. But one of my most anticipated goals is to get a shed and wood-fire kiln built at Old Crow Studio in the bluff country of SE Minnesota. I’ve been planning and saving for a long time and this summer I hope to accomplish this goal with the help of Master Kiln Builder, Donovan Palmquist.

Until construction season arrives here in the frozen north, I’ll pass my time writing blogs, applying to sales venues, updating my Etsy store and keeping my drying shelves well stock with just thrown pottery.

I hope you check back again to see what’s new here and how I’m doing on my 2009 goals.

Happy New Year to you.